Explore the different types of atmospheric (air) temperature and related weather phenomena
Atmospheric temperature is the physical quantity expressing how hot or cold the air is. That's why it is also called air temperature.
It is one of the main characteristics of the state of the atmosphere together with wind, humidity, atmospheric pressure, clouds, and others. It’s unstable, constantly changing at every point of the planet, and depends on different factors.
In this new lesson of the Windy.app Meteorological Textbook (WMT) for better weather forecasting you will learn what are the main types of atmospheric (air) temperature and how they differ from each other. We have also collected numerous weather phenomena that are associated with it such as thermal column, cold and hot weather fronts, heat waves, and others.
The main types of atmospheric (air) temperature
Atmospheric (air) temperature
It is important to keep in mind that the air is not heated by the Sun itself, rather it absorbs the heat from the surface of the ground. Meanwhile, the degree to the which the ground can be heated depends on several factors. In this new lesson of the Windy.app Meteorological Textbook (WMT) and newsletter for better weather forecasting you will learn more about air temperature.
Learn more about air temperature
Feels like temperature
Extreme heat and cold are dangerous for human health, especially if you are outdoors for a long time. In this article, we will analyze what to pay attention to when preparing for outdoor activities, how to avoid frostbite and hypothermia, and why it is important to understand the difference between the temperature and the “feels like temperature".
Learn more about feels like temperature
Bicycle riding temperature
Cycling, including ebiking and its all other kinds, is one of the most “weather-dependent” sports.
It is mainly a summer sport that requires good weather: warm air, no precipitation, and not too strong wind. Riding a bike when it is too hot can lead to body overheating, and when it is too cold — frostbite not only for your ears, fingers, and toes but for the whole body. But there are also ideal conditions you can catch during particular seasons depending on your location and personal feelings.
From this article, you will learn what the bicycle riding temperature is, and its extremes in both directions, as well as how to wear for each of the three cases.
Learn more about bicycle riding temperature
Dew point temperature
The dew point is the air temperature at which its relative humidity reaches 100% and water vapor begins to "precipitate", that is to condense. In other words, the dew point is the temperature to which the air needs to be cooled so that water condensate is released from it (dew appears).
Learn more about dew point temperature
Freezing level temperature
With the beginning of summer in the Northern Hemisphere, we almost forget about winter snow sports, and perhaps the fact that the snow has not yet melted everywhere.
However, while it may rain on a plain somewhere in Venice, Italy, the mountain peaks in the Dolomites just 100 km (62 mi) of the sea coast, are still covered with snow. The explanation for this is the freezing level. It is measured with the same instruments as the other weather parameters: weather stations, radars, probes, satellites, and so on.
In this article, we will figure out what it is and how to read the freezing level chart for your favorite summer or winter sport and outdoor activity.
Learn more about freezing level temperature
Weather phenomena related to air temperature
Thermal columns
Skydivers, paragliders and pilots are well acquainted with thermal column. These are ‘bubbles’ or pillars of rising warm air that can reach high altitudes. In this new lesson of the Windy.app Meteorological Textbook (WMT) and newsletter for better weather forecasting you will learn more about what thermal column is.
Learn more about thermal columns
Atmospheric stratification
Everything depends on air temperature. Let’s recall that warm air is less dense and lighter than cold air, so it tends to rise up from the warmed ground, and cold air from higher layers — to go down. This is called stable and unstable atmospheric stratification.
Learn more about atmospheric stratification
Cold and warm weather fronts
The front is the boundary between cold and warm air masses. In this new lesson of the Windy.app (WMT) meteorological textbook and newsletter for better weather forecasting, you will learn more about what cold and warm weather fronts are: how they resemble each other and how they differ.
Learn more about cold and warm weather fronts
Heat waves
The summer of 2022 was particularly hot — so much so that meteorogists started giving names to heat waves, as if they were hurricanes. In this lesson of the Windy.app Meteorological Textbook (WMT) and newsletter for better weather forecasting you will learn what causes heat waves.
Abnormally cold temperatures
Many countries in the northern hemisphere have experienced abnormally cold temperatures, snowfalls, and blizzards this 2022–23 winter. There were transport collapses, communal service failures, and even human casualties. What is going on with the weather? Why does everyone say the climate is getting warmer when there is record-breaking frost outside? In this lesson of the Windy.app Meteorological Textbook and newsletter for better weather forecasting we'll figure out why is it so cold in the world this winter.
Learn more about abnormally cold temperatures
Explore the different types of all the main weather phenomena:
Text: Windy.app team
Cover photo: Mika / Unsplash
